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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
Notes on a Silencing is about Lacy Crawford’s experience with sexual assault at a prestigious boarding school in New Hampshire. This book was infuriating, upsetting and not an easy read but also gives you a lot of insight into coverups and privilege for those who run in certain circles. I would definitely recommend this book but be warned it’s heavy.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
A powerful story that was ultimately very drawn out and difficult to get through. The beginning gripped me since the author went right into the story of her assault, then lost me in the middle as it seemed to drag on with irrelevant anecdotes. It did set the tone for what it was like to be at an elite and religious boarding school, both on an individual level and a macro level. It made me think a lot about the concept of systemic and institutional oppression, and how individuals, while not “bad,” are complicit and therefore perpetuating the system. The author’s resurfacing of the events in adulthood was interesting but felt rushed after the middle part seemed to go on and on. Overall a worthwhile read but I felt like it would have been just as good with fewer of the middle chapters and there would have been no real impact on the plot.
This is one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75. ashamedly I’m surprised in a negative way. an important story but not at all what the synopsis made it out to be. lulling in many parts
“To believe in the perfect victim is to believe in no victim at all.”
“To believe in the perfect victim is to believe in no victim at all.”
“It’s so simple, what happened at St. Paul’s. It happens all the time.”
Lacy Crawford’s account of how the power structure of an elite school protected the young men who assaulted her when she was 15 is all too true and all too common.
Lacy Crawford’s account of how the power structure of an elite school protected the young men who assaulted her when she was 15 is all too true and all too common.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
A sad and difficult read, but also completely unsurprising. I am grateful to Lacy for sharing the brutal truth of her story.
Highly recommend reading all the way through the acknowledgments.
Highly recommend reading all the way through the acknowledgments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Pedophilia